Machine for making articles of flexible material.



No. 628,728. Patented Iuly II, I899.

A, SHEDLOCK & J. A. HUDSON. I

MACHINE FOR MAKING ARTICLES 0F FLEXIBLE MATERIAL.

(Application filed Jan. 27, 1899.) N o M o d e l 2 Sheets$heet I.

WITNESSES: I83 NVENT5 4% a) h D} ATTORNEY No. 628,728. Patented Iuly II,I899. A. SHEDLDCK & J. A. HUDSON.

MACHINE FOR MAKING ARTICLES 0F FLEXIBLE MATERIAL.

(Application flied Jean. 27, 1899.)

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LNEQBTORS 1,-

ATTORNEY ALFRED SI-IEDLOCK, OF JERSEY CITY, NE\V JERSEY, AND JAMES A.HUDSON, OF NENV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO THEJ. l3. KLEINERT RUBBER COM-PANY, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR MAKING ARTlCLES OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,728, dated July 11,1899.

Application filed January 27, 1899.

To all whom it nut-y cancer/I.-

Be it known that we, ALFRED SHEDLooK, a resident of Jersey City, in thecounty of Hudson and State of New Jersey, andJAMEs A. HUDSON, a residentof the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Machines for Making Articles of FlexibleMaterial, of which the following is a specification. i

.This invention relates to machines for shaping or forming articles froma long piece of material such as stockinet combined with rubber, used inthe manufacture of dressshields; and it consists of a mechanicalorganization adapted to form continuously the piece of material intoshape for the articles to be cut therefrom, thus reducing the waste ofmaterial to a minimum and expediting the manufacture of such articles.

' The machine forming the subject of this invention comprises a set offormers arranged to form cells between them adapted to receive thematerial in folds formed transversely to the material fed to them from aroll of the same, a series of separate shapers adapted to be placedbetween the formers and to press the material into the cells, means forintermittently moving the formers forward as the cells are successivelysupplied with the material, and means for pressing the shapers down intothe cells to impart the requisite shape to the folds of the same as theformers are moved forwardly and to hold the shapers in their lowestpositions in the cells after they leave the pressing device. Thesespecial features, with minor details of the construction, will now befully described by reference had to theaccompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation, partly in section, of our improvedmachine for forming flexible material. Fig. 2 is a transverse section ofthe same on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section ofthe'curing-box on the line 3 3, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a view showing oneend of one of the nests of formers on an enlarged scale.

The formers a comprise end supports provided with pins a, over which theedges of the material are placed and held against lat- Serial No.703,560. (No model eral movement, and central supports over which thematerial is distorted. These formers are preferably combined in nests ofsix or more for ease of-handling, and for lightness and strength aremade up of T-irons having the ends and central supports secured to themand connected together at their ends by pieces of L-iron, as shown atFig. 4. These nests of formerswhen arranged side by side form acontinuous row of narrow cells, as shown at Fig. 1. 7 Some of theformers are provided at their lower parts with pins a (L to which theends of the piece of material are attached when themachine is to-bestarted and when it is to be stoppedat the end of a run. The shapers bare flat strips formed attheir lower ends to correspond with the shapeto be given the lower folds of the material and provided with end lugs b1), adapted to project beyond the ends of the formers, between which theshapers are placed to fold and form the material in the cells.

A suitable long frame 0 is provided having at its upper partlongitudinal guideways in which the nests of formers a are placed andalong which they are intermittently caused to travel in acontinuous linefrom the filling end tothe discharge end of the machine. The means hereadopted to impart the intermittent forward movement of the formers aconsists of the bars cl (Z, fitted to slide in the frame 0 just belowthe guideways and provided with dogs or catches d d, arranged to engagewith the lower bars of the formers,

near their upper ends, and cams ff, secured to the driving-shaft f,fitted to rotate in suit able bearings projecting from the front legsand arranged to positively move the formers forward through the mediumof the levers e e and bars d (Z against the action of the springs 6 c",which hold the rollers c e against the cams and retract the bars 61 dfor their dogs to take a fresh hold on the formers.

The material 9 passes from the rollg to the cells of the formers to befilled over the bar or the roller g of the swinging frame 9 whose rangeof movements is adjusted by the screw 9 to carry forward the material insufficient quantity to form the folds of the desired depth in the cells,according to the sizes of the dress-shields or other articles to be madefrom the materiaL. This swinging frame may be raised into feedingposition by the spring g or be so raised by the operator who, standingat the front end of the machine, sees that the material is properlystraightened as it passes over the frame and secures the edges over thepins a ottheformers, the material in sufficient quantity for each foldbeing formed by the forward movement of the swinging frame and carrieddown into acell by one of the shapersb, which may be manipulated byanother operator. such formers b is shown above the cell next to befilled in Figs. 1 and 2. These shapers Z) as they are deposited in thecells rest by their lugs 1) upon the guide-stops h at the sides of theformers and so determine the depth of the folds of the material, saidguide-stops being vertically adjustable to provide for different sizesof formers and depths of folds. As the cells are successively filled andintermittently moved forward the lugs b of the shapers I) pass under theinclined ledges t' and are thereby gradually depressed within the cellsand so gradually distort the material at right angles to the folds untilit assumes the desired shape, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. These inclinedledges i may with advantage to the forming operation be given avertically-reciprocating motion, so as to alternately relieve the foldsof strain under movements of the shapers and to positively graduallyforce the shapers down as they intermittently move forward with thecells. From the inclined ledges t' the lugs slide under the horizontalledgcsj, which extend aboutthe full length. of the frame and through thecuring orvulcanizing chamber, which will be hereinafter described. Wherethese horizontal led gesj end are located inverse inclined ledgesj,which raise the shapers partly out of the cells for their ready removaltherefrom by the lugs 12 riding up the same. To impart verticalreciprocating motion to the inclined ledges 2', they are attached to theupper ends of the vertically-sliding bars t" 1', held in guides i 2' atthe sides of the upper part of the frame and in the bracket 0 eprojecting from the front legs, and these bars are verticallyreciprocated by means of the eccentrics 70, secured to the shaft f orforming parts of the cams ff, as shown, and the rods 71, k, embracingthe eccentrics and attached at their lower ends to the shaft 70 securedto the two sliding bars i z". This shaftf is provided with adriving-pulleyf One of from inconvenience of the same.

when it is desired to run the machine by power or with a crank-handle fwhen the machine is to be run by hand-power, one full revolution of saidshaft causing the shapers Z) b to be moved forward to bring a fresh cellinto position for filling and the inclined ledges it to be reciprocated,and thereby act to depress all of the shapers b b whose end lugs arebeneath the inclined ledges. As the formers a a arrive at the dischargeend of the machine with the folded andformedmaterial in the cells eachnest of cells is placed on the conveyer after the shapers b b and thematerial have been removed, said material being separated at the foldsbetween the nests of cells, forming batches of six folds in convenientform for handling and have the article in finished condition cuttherefrom. This conveyer is shown as a traveling belt I, carried byrollers Z Z at one side of the machine, and may be operated by hand orby power to con- 'vey thenests of formers a 0L and the shapers b b,which are also placed on it, from the discharge end to the filling endof the machine.

The curing or vulcanizing chamber m is formed by an air-tight box ofsufficient length toinsure the proper conversion of the material as ittravels from one end to the other of the chamber. It is provided withmeans forheating it to the desired degree, preferably consisting ofsteam heater-pipes n 11, arranged, respectively, above and below theline of traveling shapers and formers, with flap-doors m m at its ends,which fall down and close the openings through which the formers passwhen the chamber is unoccupied by them and which are supplied withflexible coverings or shields m of a nature to lie closely to the uppersides of the formers and the curved portions of the upper folds of thematerial, so as to make the openings of the cham ber as nearly aspossible air-tight when the formers, with the folded and formedmaterial, are passing through it, and also with a discharge-pipe mprovided with an adjustable damper wt, preferably extending from theunder side of the chamber, and which may be contin ued to any convenientlocation to carry the fumes or exhausted gases from the chamber, andthus leave the building or room free When the curing or vulcanization ofthe convertible part of the material is to be produced by means of achemical in conjunction with heat, it is proposed to supply the chemicalliquid to an open dish 0, located above the material, and to maintain auniform level of the same in the dish from an inverted bottle 0, havinga long neck extending down through a hole in the top of the box m intoand beneath the surface of the liquid in the'dish, acting on theprinciple of a bird-fountain, said neck of the bottle being providedwith a stop-cock which is used to prevent undue escape of the liquidfrom the bottle as it is placed in position after being filled andwhich-may be'used to regulate the flow of the liquid into the dish 0.

This arrangement of the active curing or vulcanizing liquid is adoptedwhen the gases given off from the same under the influence of heat havegreater density than the atmos phere, the said chamber being kept fullycharged with the gases, the residue of which is allowed to escapethrough the pipe at after the active principle has been taken up by thematerial as the gases pass over the materialas, for instance, invulcanizing a pure gum rubber combined with a fabric bichlorid of sulfurmay be the liquid used, the fumes'or gases of which are heavier than theatmosphere. A forced discharge of the gases from the chamber may beinduced by means of an exhaust-fan applied to the pipe m Thedischarge'pipe may in some cases be advantageously at the upper part ofand liquid placed in the lower part of the chamber. To prevent the gasesthat may surround the material as it leaves the chamber 0 escapingintothe room, a closed chamberp is formed at the discharge end of thechamber 0, and this chamber 17 may also be used as acooling chamber tocool off the material as it passes therethrough before being handled,which is desirable to insure the material maintaining the set impartedto it in the forming and curing processes. This chamber is provided witha pipe 1), through which air, cooled, if desired, may be drawn, and mayhave a flapdoor 29 with a flexible'shield like the door m at thedischarge-opening, and to insure a constant change of air to flow overthe material in the chamber a suction-fan q is located and operated atthe upper part of it. An antechamber r is located at the entrance end ofthe chamber m to collect such of the gases as may escape throughthe'entrance-opening, and to cause a discharge of the same with thedischarge from the chamber. p the pipe connection r joins the top ofthis chamber 0 to the inlet of the fan g, said pipe being provided witha damper r to govern the flow of air through the chamber r.

We claim as our invention 1. In a machine for forming articles offlexible material, in combination, parallel arranged formers spaced toform cells between them, separate shapers adapted to fold the materialinto the cells between the formers, and means for intermittently movingthe formers forward as each successive cell is provided with a fold ofthe material and with a shaper in said fold.

2. In amachine for forming articles of flexible material, incombination, parallelarranged formers spaced to form cells between them,separate shapers adapted to fold the material into the cells between theformers, guide-stops at the ends of the formers upon which the ends ofthe shapers rest when placed in the cells to determine the depths of thefolds of the material, means for intermittently moving the formersforward with the shapers holding the folded material in the cells, andinclined ledges at the ends of the formers under ing the formers forwardwith the shapers holding the folded material in the cells, and inclinedledges at the ends of the formers under which the ends of the shaperspass to depress them, and so form the material, as they areintermittently carried forward with the cells of the formers, andhorizontal ledges under which the end of the shapers bear and by meansof which they are held down in the cells when they leave the inclinedledges.

4. In a machine for forming articles of flexible material, incombination, parallel-arranged formers spaced to form cells betweenthem, separate shapers adapted to fold the material into the cellsbetween the formers, and means for intermittently moving the formersforward as each successive cell is provided with a fold of the materialand with a shaper in said fold, and a swinging guideframe over which thematerial passes and which is moved forward toward the cell be ing filledto form sufficient slack in the material for the requisite folds.

5. In amachine for forming articles of flexible material, incombination, parallel -arranged formers spaced to form cells betweenthem, separate shapers adapted to fold the material into the cellsbetween the formers, adjustable guide-stops at the ends of the formersupon which the ends of theshapers rest for determining the widths of thefolds made by the shapers, means for intermittently moving the formersforward as each successive cell is provided with a fold of the materialand with a s'haper in said fold and an adjustableguide-frame over whichthe material passes adapted to be moved forward .to present the rightquantity of the material to the cell being filled to form the requisitefolds.

6. In a machine for forming articles of flexi ble material, incombination, parallel arranged formers spaced to form cells betweenthem, separate shapers adapted to fold the material into the cellsbetween the formers, guide-stops at the ends of the formers upon whichthe ends of the shapers rest when placed in the cells to determinethe'depths of the folds of the material, means for intermittently movingthe formers forward with the shapers holding the folded material in thecells, inclined ledges at the ends of the formers under which the endsof the shapers pass to depress them, and so form the material, as theyare intermittently carried forward with the cells of the formers andmeans for vertically reciprocatingthe inclined ledges to progressivelydepress all of the shapers under the action of said inclined ledges.

7. In a machine for forming articles of flexible material, incombination, parallelarranged formers spaced to .form cells betweenthem, separate shapers adapted to fold the material into the cellsbetween theformers,

guide-stops at the ends of the formers upon which the ends of theshapers rest when placed in the, cells to determine the depths of thefoldsof-the material, means for intermittently moving the formersforward with the shapers holding .the folded material in the cells, andinclined. ledges at the ends of the formers under which the endsoftheshapers pass to depress them, and so form the material, as they areintermittently carried forward with the cells of the formers,.andhorizontal ledges underwhichithe endof the shapers bearandby meansofwhich they are held down in the cells when they leave the inclinedledges and means for verticallyreciprocatin g the inclined led ges. toprogressively depress all of the shapers under the action ofsaidinclined ledges.

8. Ina machine for forming articles of flexible material, incombination, parallel -arranged formers spaced to form cells betweenthem,.sep arate shapers adaptedto fold the material into thecellsbetween the, formers,

, guide-stops at the ends of the formers upon which the ends of theshapers rest when placed in the cells to determine the depths of thefolds of the material, means forintermittentl y moving the formersforward with the shapers holding the folded material in the cells,inclinedledges at the ends of the formers under which .the ends of theshapers pass to depress them, and soform-the material as they areintermittently carried forward with the cells of the formers, a frameprovided with guideways in which the formers slide and atone end ofwhich are located the. guide-stops and inclined, ledges, horizontalledges extending along the frame andunder which the ends of the shap-vers bear, after they leave'the inclined ledges and reverse-inclinedledges at the other end of the frame upon which the ends ofthe shap-'ersslide so as, to cause said shapers to be.

raisednp inthe cells.

9. Ina machine for forming articles of flexible material, incombination, parallel-arrangedformers spaced to form cells betweenthem,separate shapers adapted to fold the material into the cellsbetween the formers, and [means .for, intermittently moving the fomersforward as each successive cell is provided with a foldof the materialand with=a shaper' in said fold, a frame provided with guidewaysinlwhich the formers slide, and a conveyor at the side of the frame fortrans mitting'the formers and shapers from the discharge endof the frameto the fillingend.

1Q. In a.;machine for forming articles-10f flexible material,in-combination, parallelarranged formers spaced to form cells betweenthem, separate shapers adapted to fold the.

material into the cells between the formers,

guide-stops at theends of theformers upon,

which. the ends of the shapers rest when placed in the cells; todetermine the depths of the folds of the material, means for interm,it-'tently moving the formers forward with. the,

shapers holding the foldedv material in the cells, inclined ledgesat theends of the formers under which the. ends of the shapers pass I todepress them, and so form the material as they are intermittentlycarried forward with the cells of theformers, a frame provided withguideways in which the formers slide and at one end of which are locatedthe guide-v stops and inclined ledges, horizontalledges extending alongthe frame andunder which the ends of the shapers bear after they leavethe inclinedledges, reverse-inclined ledges at the other end of theframe upon whichthe ends of the, shapers slide so as, to cause said.

shapers tobe raised up in tl1e cells, and a conveyer at the side of theframe for transmitting theformers and. shapers from. the

discharge end of the frame to the filling end.

11. Ina machine for formingarticles of 12. In a machinevfor formingarticlesof flexible material, in combination, parallel-arranged formersspaced to form cells between them, separate shapers to hold thematerial,

folded in the cells, guide-stops at the ends of the formers upon whichthe ends of the shapers rest when placed in the cells, means for movingthe formers and shapers forward as the cells areprovidedwith thematerial,

means for depressing the shapers down into.

the cells to stretch the material into the de sired shape, means forholding the shapers in their depressed positions in the cells, and acuring or vulcanizing chamber into which the formers and shapers enteras they are moved forward, and in which the formed material held in theformers is cured orvulcanized.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 24th day,

of January, A. D. 1899.v 1

ALFRED SHEDLQCK. JAMES A. HUDSON.

Witnesses ARTHUR O. BLATZ, DAvrn RosENsT rN;

